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As a recent returnee and after 30 plus years I have time again to fuel my passion. Years ago it was easy to sit on a station for hours and watch the trains, but wondered in the current climate if this was more difficult or are stations open to people to sit and watch, obviously I have a ticket to ride to somewhere eventually. Has anyone any experience of issues or is all good for rail enthusiasts. Thanks and great to be back to my hobby

I think it is much more difficult now. Many reasons.

In the 1970s and 1980s I cleared my locos for sight 3 times, missed by 243 a photograph of every single loco in BR capital stock, cleared my units and came close on rolling stock. I used to be able to drive round to many depots and either bunk or ask permission and walk round them and regularly see 100+ locos on Toton on a Sunday afternoon. I used to do overnights at Crewe and Doncaster o n a very regular basis Those days are gone forever.

Last year I was with LDECRExile on Bolton station and photographing the electrification work. We were not thrown off but we were questioned a few times. Life has got more litigious; Suicide is more apparent and a cause for concern; safety has (quite rightly) ratcheted up. It is still a great hobby, but it is not what it was 30 years ago in my opinion.

BTW I think this post is in the wrong section.

Welcome Mal.

National Rail have produced these 'guidelines for enthusiasts' which may be useful to carry:

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/51952.aspx

Mal75756 said:

As a recent returnee and after 30 plus years I have time again to fuel my passion. Years ago it was easy to sit on a station for hours and watch the trains, but wondered in the current climate if this was more difficult or are stations open to people to sit and watch, obviously I have a ticket to ride to somewhere eventually. Has anyone any experience of issues or is all good for rail enthusiasts. Thanks and great to be back to my hobby

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It depends on which station you are thinking of visiting. You are unlikely to have issues at somewhere like York or Doncaster, for example.

telstarbox said:

Welcome Mal.

National Rail have produced these 'guidelines for enthusiasts' which may be useful to carry:

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/51952.aspx

Click to expand...

thanks for this

yorkie said:

It depends on which station you are thinking of visiting. You are unlikely to have issues at somewhere like York or Doncaster, for example.

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I wondered if it would be the case that smaller stations (less busy) would be easier to view from although you suffer from less train traffic. Or may be that more London centric maybe more security aware in the current climate. Thanks for the reply

Yes, gone are the days of bunking around depots/stabling points etc. Understandable of course, as more value is placed upon assets these days and there have been high-profile traspass cases due to unlocked gates/holes in fences etc

At some stations, gruff "jobsworths" may turn up and interrogate you just for "hanging around" - or if you're lucky, a more friendly staff member might come and ask if "you are alright" in case you are a suicide risk... On the flip side, I have found some staff to be very friendly; they leave you alone or in my case, often take an active interest as I have a big(ish) camera

In my personal experience, I gave up "spotting" a long time ago as a lot of modern traction doesn't interest me any more; I'm bored of taking down numbers; I don't have the time and "elf n safety" has escalated (not all good IMHO)